Even though he composed them in intentionally challenging ways (cf. Matthew 13:10-17), Jesus’ parables provide insight and direction to the life of those who meditate on them. We have been considering some of his parables this month to see what insights they offer us that will guide us as we navigate the hopes, heartbreaks, successes, and failures we will encounter in the coming year. We have considered the following parables this month:
¨ The parable of the weeds – even though we will face challenges, Jesus remains in control.
¨ The parable of the tower builder – we need to develop relationships that offer accountability and support to help us meet the high cost of following Jesus.
¨ The parable of the friend at midnight – God’s good identity motivates our confidence in seeking His help.
This lesson concludes our series by examining Jesus’ parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18:21-35, a parable reminding us that following Jesus reshapes our relationships with the people around us.